Tube mount



J. E. GALL TUBE MOUNT Feb. M 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1945 WWW JAMES E. GALL 'J. E. GALL TUBE MOUNT Feb. 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1945 JAMES E. GALL Patented Feb. 14, 195

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE MOUNT James E. Gall, Washington, D. 0.

Application March 15, 1945, Serial No. 582,968

16 Claims. (Cl. 250-141) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to a mount for electron tubes of the cathode ray type, .particularly for such tubes as are characterized by an elongated neck terminated in a bowl-shaped portion containing the screen of the cathode ray tube.

In mounting a cathode ray tube, it is often difiicult to cradle the tube in such a manner that it will be protected from jars and shocks. A common fault of prior art devices has been that shakin of the mount causes breakage of the tube, particularly at the flare where the neck joins the bowl. A second difiiculty encountered is that of providing an easily adjustable focusing means around the neck of the tube for con- 1 centrating the electron beam at a point on the screen.

It is an object of this invention to produce an easilj adjustable centering and focusing means whereby the electron beam within the tube may be quickly brought to focus on a desired point on the screen of the tube. This centering and focusin means is characterized by a spherical surface held by a complementary surface secured to the mount, thus forming a juncture providing universal movement of the centering and focusing means about a stationary point.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mount for a cathode ray tube in which the tube is held by resilient mounting means at three points along its length, thereby rigidly supporting the tube within the mount and at the same time providing sufiicient resiliency so that the tube may withstand shocks and blows applied to the mount.

Another object is to provide a, mount adapted to hold satisfactorily cathode ray tubes of vary- 1 ing lengths and bowl diameters without alteration of the mount.

With these objects in mind, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be describedby reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a sectionalized elevation of the mount,

Figure 2 is an end view, partially in section, Figure 3 is a section taken along line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the functional operation of the electrical windings associated with the cathode ray tube mount.

' Referring to Figure l, the mount is shown com-i the tube protrudes beyond the frame and terminates in a conventional socket I5 which pro-1,

vides electrical connection to the elements of the tube I3. As shown, the rim 2| of the tube is positioned adjacent the ring I9. Portion II and cylinder I2 serve the purpose of positioning the bowl of tube I3 and of shielding it from ambient fields.

The tube flare I6 abuts against a ring of rubber I'I surrounding hole 18 in the frame I0. A soft, cushioned force is thus applied forwardly and centrally to the tube at the flare I6. A ring of rubber 2!] is positioned between the rim 2| and removable bezel 22 which, with ring I 9, serves to support the forward portion of tube I3. Rubber ring 20 eXtencls slightly in front of screen 32 of the tube. Bezel 22 is secured to ring I9 by three securing bolts 23 spaced symmetrically around bezel 22. Rubber ring 20 thus exerts a pliant holding force rearwardly and centrally on the rim 2| of the tube. In this manner the bowl of the tube is securely and resiliently mounted within the frame II] by the opposing action of rubber rings I! and 20, the former bearing forwardly and centrally, and the latter rearwardly and centrally against the bowl of the tube.

The neck of the tube is anchored near base I4 by clamp 24 sheathed in rubber 25. Clamp 24 is a conventional, over-center device comprising toggle arms 25 and 21 which snap into place around the tube, securing the tube base I4 securely to boss 30 attached to frame ID. A padding of rubber 28, carried by the concave portion of boss 30, cushions the base I4 of the tube as it is pressed against boss 30 by the spring action of clamp 24.

Securing of clamp 24 completes the anchoring of the cathode ray tube I3 in the mount ID at three critical points. At the mid-point or flare I6, the rubber-cushioned mountin force is directed centrally and forwardly against the bowl of the tube; at the rim 2| the mounting force is directed centrally and rearwardly against the bowl, thereby securing the bowl securely within the frame It]. The mounting operation is completed at the third point by securing of clamp 24, which provides a rubber-cushioned force directed centrally against the base I4 of the tube.

It will be apparent that the tube mount above described will hold satisfactorily cathode ray tubes of variable dimensions. The neck of the tube may be of any length, provided the base I4 extends at least as far as the clamp 24. Variable lengths of the bowl portion are accommodated by the Sliding fit between bezel 22 and ring I9. By employing various shield assemblies III2, tube bowls of different diameters may be satisfactorily mounted.

Another distinctive feature of this invention is the centering and focusing means whereby the electron beam within the tube is directed against any desired point on the screen 32, generally near the center thereof. Centering and focusing of a cathode ray beam is often accomplished by the use of magnetic deflecting means, the magnetic deflection being produced by a coilwound around the neck of the tube and having its axis coincident with the axis of the tube. embodiment shown herein illustrates such a fo- CllSil'lg means. schematically, such a centering and focusing means is typified by coil 33 of Figure 4.

The centering and focusing means comprises a toroid, or doughnut shaped member 35, having a hollow annular portion 34 therein, in which the focusing coil 33 is held. Through the hole in the toroid 35 passes the neck of the cathode ray tube l3. The magnetic field produced by current in coil 33 is thus directed generally along the central axis of the cathode ray tube, and the electron beam within the cathode ray tube will tend to orient itself parallel to the magnetic field. Changes in the direction of the magnetic field of coil 33 may be produced by rotation of the toroidal member 35 holding coil 33. The direction of the electron beam shifts with the direction of the magnetic field of coil 33. The beam can thus be caused to deflect over an appreciable angle and to impinge on any point on screen 32.

In the present invention, deflection of the controlling magnetic field is produced in the following manner. The periphery of toroid 35 includes a surface 35 lying on the surface of a sphere which has its center at point 45, in the center and on the axis of the cathode ray tube l3. Spherical face 36 is received in three cooperating holding members 42 having complementary spherical surfaces 4i. Holding members 41 contain clamping bolts 45 bearing axially against an annular rim 46 protruding from the sperical surface 35 of toroid 35. When the three bolts 45 have been tightened, they act in complementary fashion to hold rigidly toroid 35 against further movement within the spherical surfaces 4| of the holders 52. This action fixes the position of coil 33 with respect to frame l; and the point on the screen 32 upon which the electron beam impinges is thus determined. If it is desired to shift the point at which the beam impinges against screen 32, bolts 45 are loosened to permit universal adjustment of toroid 35 Within the spherically faced holders 42 by means of handle 47, following which the bolts 45 are retightened to anchor toroid 35 in the new position.

Coil 55, secured within coil holder constitutes a means for producing a transverse magnetic field diametrically across the tube. Coil holder 5| is rotated in bearings 52 by means of gears 53 and 55 driven by motor 55. Electrical connection to coil 50 is made through rings 56 and brushes 51.

It will be apparent from the above that there has been described a mounting means for a cathode ray tube in which the tube is held securely in a frame and which in addition provides an easily adjustable means for centering and focusing the electron beam within the cathode ray tube. If desired, toroid 35 may be held in place by means of cooperating spherical cups instead of the adjustable bolts 45.

It can be readily seen that the universal type of adjustment described above may be embodied in any type of focusing means holder utilizing the ball and socket principle in which a surface is made universally adjustable about a central point.

The resilient mounting members forming the The exemplary anchoring means for the tube in the frame may be either permanently-secured to the frame, or may be separable therefrom. .Both ty es are exemplified in the mounting means hereinbefore described. Rubber ring I! exemplifies the first type, while rubber ring 20 illustrates the second type.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalty thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. Mounting means adapted to receive a cathode ray tube and comprising a frame, longitudinally spaced tube supporting portions secured to said frame, resilient means positioned by said supporting portions for engaging the tube to hold it in said frame, an annular member having a spherical surface, holding means for the annular member having a complementary spherical surface contacting the spherical surface of said annular member and carried by said frame, and means carried by said annular member for controlling an electron beam in the tube.

2. In combination, a cathode ray tube, a mount therefor comprising longitudinally spaced annular supporting members disposed adjacent said tube near the rim, flare and base of said tube, resilient buffer members positioned by said supporting members and bearing against said tube to hold it in said mount, a toroidal member having a spherical surface, electron beam focusing means carried by said toroidal member, and supporting means for the toroidal member attached to said mount and having a complementary spherical surface receiving said spherical surface of said toroidal member and effective to permit universal adjustment of said focusing means.

3. In a cathode ray tube mount, an annular member positioned to surround the neck of a tube in said mount and having a spherical surface,

, means carried by said annular member and operative to control an electron beam in the tube, and holding means for the annular member having a surface cooperating with the spherical surface of the annular vmember so that the annular member may be universally positioned with respect to said holding means.

4. In a cathode ray tube mount, an adjustable member having a first spherical surface, means attached to said adjustable member and effective to control the beam of a cathode ray tube, and holding means secured to the mount and having a second spherical surface cooperating with said first spherical surface whereby said adjustable member may be universally positioned with respect to said holding means.

5. In a cathode ray tube mount, a toroidal member positioned to receive the neck of a tube in said mount and having a face conforming to the surface of a sphere, electron beam focusing means carried by said toroidal member, holding means for said toroidal member attached to the mount and having a portion cooperating with said face of said toroidal member, control means for universally positioning said toroidal member with respect to said holding means, and clamping means for adjustably securing said toroidal member to said holding means.

6. Focusing means for electron tube comprising a movable member having a first surface, electron beam focusing means secured to said member and movable therewith, holding means having a secondsurface. engaging said first surface and. effective to support said member in operative relationship with an electron tube, at least one of said surfaces being of spherical configuration, and means operative to secure adjustably said member with respect to said holding means.

7. Focusing means for electron tube, comprising a holder having a first surface, a member movable with respect to said holder and having a second surface engaging said first surface at points lying on the surface of a sphere, said member being universally positionable with respect to said holder and held thereby in operative relationship with respect to an electron tube, and means effective to immobilize said member with respect to said holder.

8. In combination, a cathode ray tube, a frame, supporting members secured to said frame adjacent the rim, flare and base portions of said tube, resilient means carried by said members for contacting the rim, flare and base portions substantially throughout the circumferences thereof, and clamping means carried by the supporting member adjacent said base portion for securing the tube to said frame.

9. A mount for a cathode ray tube comprising a frame, a first member secured to said frame and adapted to surround the rim 'of a cathode ray tube, resilient means positioned by said first member to bear centrally and rearwardly against the rim of the tube, a second member secured to said frame and positioned to surround the flare of the tube, resilient means positioned by said second member to bear centrally and forwardly against the bowl of the tube, a third member secured to said frame and positioned near the base of the tube, and resilient clamping means held by said third member and operable to bear centrally against the base of the tube to secure it in said frame.

10. Focusing means for a cathode ray tube provided with a supporting member comprising electron beam focusing means universally mounted on said supporting member and securing means for maintaining predetermined relationship between said electron beam focusing means and said tube.

11. In combination, a cathode ray tube, a supporting member for-said tube, a focusing means for said tube, means universally mounting said focusing means on said supporting member in operative relation with said tube and securing means operable to fix said focusing means in predetermined relation with said tube.

12. In combination with a cathode ray tube, a deflection coil surrounding said tube, a motor for rotating said deflection coil, a casing having a supporting portion, means engageable with one side of said portion for detachably mounting said deflection coil on said casing, means engageable with the other side of said portion for detachably mounting said motor on said casing, and drive means interconnecting said motor and said deflection coil, said drive means including gearing supported by said casing independently of said motor support and a flexible coupling between said gearing and said motor.

13. In combination with a cathode ray tube, deflection and focusing coils associated with said tube, a motor for rotating said deflection coil, a casing having a supporting portion, means engageable with one side of said portion for detachably mounting said deflection coil on said casing, means engageable with the other side of said portion for detachably mounting said motor on said casing, drive means interconnecting said motor and said deflection coil and means for adjustably mounting said focusing coil on said other side of said portion.

14. In combination with a cathode ray tube having flare and base portions, a casing including a supporting portion intermediate said base portion, a deflection coil, deflection coil mounting means rotatably carried by said supporting portion, means detachably mounting said deflection coil on said mounting means with said deflection coil positioned on the side of said supporting portion adjacent the flare portion of said tube, a motor for rotating said deflection coil detachably mounted on the other side of said supporting portion and drive means carried by said casing interconnecting said motor and said deflection coil.

15. In combination with a cathode ray tube having flare and base portions, a casing including a supporting portion intermediate the base portion of said tube, a deflection coil, deflection coil mounting means rotatably carried by said supporting portion, means detachably mounting said deflection coil on said mounting means with said deflection coil positioned on the side of said supporting portion adjacent the flare portion of said tube, a motor for rotating said deflection coil detachably mounted on the other side of said supporting portion, drive means carried by said casing interconnecting said motor and said deflection coil mounting means, and a focusing coil adjustably mounted on said other side of said supporting portion.

16. In combination, a cathode ray tube having rim, flare and base portions, 3, frame supporting said tube, resilient supporting members carried by said frame to circumferentially contact said rim, flare and base portions, and tightening means included in the supporting member contacting said base and rim portions for securing said tube to said frame.

JAMES E. GALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 338,273 Rankin Dec. 11, 1906 2,047,020 Flaherty July 7, 1936 2,165,779 Blain July 11, 1939 2,305,459 Schuchmann et al. Dec. 15, 1942 2,354,661 Berejkofi Aug. 1, 1944 2,389,995 Packer Nov. 27, 1945 2,404,030 Browne July 16,, 1946 2,418,487 Sproul Apr. 8, 1947 2,428,928 Cain Oct. 14, 1947 2,435,613 Sproul Feb. 10, 1948 2,443,973 Asling June 22, 1948 2,456,399 Gethmann Dec. 14, 1948 2,465,354 Clark Mar. 29, 1949 2,479,494 Jackson Aug. 16, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 378,681 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1932 459,355 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1937 461,450 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1937 472,165 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1937 526,382

Great Britain Sept. 17, 1940 

